Hey there! I have a music playlist for this story on my profile. I recommend you listen to it while you read, and make sure it does not advance automatically, as you should do so when you see (adv). You don't have to listen to it, but it will enhance the experience.

-0-

Prologue

There is nothing.

Actually, there is a small, nondescript chunk of stone brick, shrouded in a sort of mist, but this is all that is left of the timeline - and, of course, the reality.

"HaaAAH!"

Shadow skates swiftly toward the brick chunk, narrowly evading the darkness that spreads through what is left of Kingdom Valley like an infectious disease. He leaps from a rope just as it is consumed, and plants his feet firmly on the bricks, followed by his left fist.

"Okay, that's the last one," he says as he gets to his feet. "And hurry," he adds. "I can feel Solaris beginning to awaken." He holds out the red Chaos Emerald, still glistening with energy, to a grateful Elise.

"Thank you, Shadow."

The Soleannan princess walks towards the Chaos Emeralds that have already been retrieved - the yellow by Tails, the green by Omega, the cyan by Knuckles, the white by Silver, the purple by Rouge, and the blue by Amy - which encircle a dead Sonic the Hedgehog.

She places the gemstone in a space between two Emeralds that is much wider than the rest, to accommodate for the final one.

(adv)

Elise folds her hands in prayer. "O Chaos Emeralds, gems of miracle. Please heed my call."

Rising into the air, the gemstones begin to glow much more brightly than before, causing much of the group to partially cover their eyes.

The princess raises her arms and her voice, continuing with her bid.

"I wish to save this world. I wish to cleanse my father's sin. And I wish to be with Sonic... once again."

Sonic's lifeless body raises into the air, becoming level with the Chaos Emeralds. They just... remain.

"It's... not enough."

Elise falls to her knees, defeated.

"No, Elise. You've done your part."

Shadow approaches the circle.

"It simply needs a little jolt, is all. Silver?"

Silver looks up and nods. "I know what we have to do."

He takes up the side opposite the ultimate lifeform.

"Chaos..."

"Chaos..."

"Control!"

A blinding flash of light, which causes artifacts in the party's vision. Sonic's eyes snap open, and he falls into Elise's suddenly open arms.

"I knew you'd return."

"Hey... Didn't we do this at the station?"

Elise laughs. "Yes, we did."

Sonic gets to his feet and helps Elise up, then approaches Shadow and Silver.

"Thank you."

He turns back to Elise.

"And you."

And back to Shadow and Silver.

"We've got all seven Emeralds, right? I think we could use a little Super power."

Don't you?

(adv)

A voice sounds inside the heads of each member of the group. To some, it was familiar... and cause for action.

"Mephiles!" exclaims Eggman. Yeah, remember him?

Oh, no. At least, not any longer.

"Wha- Shads, who is this guy?"

As Iblis, I was powerful, but I could not unlock my full potential. I lacked Mephiles' intelligence.

As Mephiles, I was weak and inefficient. I had none of Iblis' power.

The Chaos Emeralds, one by one, lose their luster and drop to the ground, where they fade to gray.

Now, I am far more powerful and intelligent than Iblis or Mephiles on their own.

The Emeralds are scattered again.

I am...Solaris.

With these words, Solaris reveals himself from the darkness, causing the little foothold to quake.

And you, along with this world, are gone.

A golden ball of energy, resembling one of Mephiles' time travel balls, appears in the center of the foothold and begins to suck everyone in.

Tails is the first to be overtaken, followed by Knuckles and Eggman.

Rouge is next, then Omega, then Amy.

Sonic, holding Elise, makes his way toward Silver and Shadow, but he makes a misstep and falls in anyway.

Silver and Shadow hold their own, but the force becomes greater and Silver loses hold. Shadow snaps around and grabs his hand, but his grip is too loose and he falls in.

Shadow, the ultimate lifeform, the only lifeform, can barely speak.

"Why are you doing this?" he manages.

Why? I thought you'd have guessed.

It's fun.

With Solaris laughing like a madman, Shadow loses his grip and falls out of the world.